HOUSTON, August 31, 2011 -- Key documents that shed light on
historic periods in the birth and growth of Texas face an uncertain
future due to poor preservation practices and limited resources in
court record archives across the state, according to a report
released today by a task force charged with reviewing the situation
by the Supreme Court of Texas.

The records -- many that are decaying or being destroyed due to a
mix of events and conditions -- contain information about famous
Texans, record the lives of ordinary residents of the Lone Star State
during historic periods of time and, for some, such as African
Americans, may contain the only information that exists about their
ancestors.

"We have spent the past two years volunteering time to study
and learn about the preservation of these records," said Bill
Kroger, chair of The Texas Court Records Preservation Task Force and a
partner at Baker Botts L.L.P. Mark Lambert, Deputy Commissioner of
Archives and Records for the Texas General Land Office, is vice chair
of the Task Force.

"After visiting with district and county clerks across the
state, collecting surveys and reviewing documents and records at more
than 500 storage facilities, we learned that while some clerks have the
necessary resources and are doing a good job preserving records, other
clerks need substantial help going forward to keep from losing
important historical information," Kroger said.

Lambert said: "Some counties store their irreplaceable historic
records in places such as metal storage containers, poorly maintained
buildings, and maintenance sheds that hold equipment, chemicals, and
holiday decorations near their records. Many counties do not have
secure, air-conditioned and humidity controlled storage for their
records, the single best solution for their long-term preservation.
Clerks are generally aware of these issues, but they need better
assistance from the community and from other elected county
officials."

Kroger added, "There is also more we could be do at the State
level, such as fundraising and better state-wide training. Our report
tries to address some of the issues."

Among the endangered documents is the record of the trial and
sentencing of outlaw John Wesley Hardin in 1878. Hardin shot and killed
Deputy Sheriff Charles Webb in Comanche County in 1874. He fled Texas
but was hunted down by Texas Ranger John B. Armstrong in Pensacola,
Florida. Hardin was brought back to Comanche County where he was tried
and convicted of murder. The District Clerk of Comanche County is so
worried about these records of the case that she keeps the file in a
secret place in her office.

The story about Hardin doesn't end with his trial. He served time
for the murder conviction in a Huntsville prison. He was released from
prison only to be shot and killed by John Selman Sr. in 1895. Kroger has
seen court papers pertaining to Selman's killing of Hardin for sale on
the Internet.

This is just one example of what district and county clerks face in
trying to preserve the records of Texas history.

"These documents are our living history, the parchment of our
past," said Chief Justice Wallace B. Jefferson. "We must
preserve them so that our descendants will appreciate the Texas they
have inherited."

The Task Force report, which will be formally presented to the Texas
Supreme Court at a special hearing on September 26, 2011, identifies a
number of preservation problems, including:

* improper storage and handling at the storage facilities;
* effects of moisture and temperature fluctuations;
* ravages of rats, bugs and vermin; and
* the acidity of the ink and the poor quality of paper used in
recording information.

"Also, there are cases where records have been given away by
government officials, or stolen by thieves and sold on the
Internet," Kroger said. "In some cases they were destroyed by
fires, hurricanes or other natural disasters. Many records are stored
in dilapidated structures -- with no air conditioning or climate
controls -- and even in rail cars and storage bins."

The Task Force found that while many clerks are skilled in modern
management of electronic and other current court records, many clerks,
especially those in old counties with small populations, have not been
able to collect enough money to preserve records, Kroger added.

Among the Task Force recommendations:

* better document preservation training for district and county
clerks;
* the adoption of better record handling and security;
* development of statewide storage and preservation policies and
procedures; and
* more sustained, coordinated enforcement by state officials
against thieves who are stealing these records.

At the hearing in September before the Texas Supreme Court, the Task
Force will present the report to the Court. It will also unveil 20
previously undiscovered or not well known historic court records that
were previously unpreserved.

These records have now been preserved by Louisiana Binding Services
because of donations from the law firm of Baker Botts, L.L.P. and the
State Bar of Texas.

"These records, which are now beautifully preserved, are of
immense historical importance. In 20 documents, we have tried to tell
the history of the State of Texas. We hope these records will illustrate
the importance of preserving these documents going forward. These
records are some of the crown jewels of the state." says Kroger.
"The Task Force hopes that the public will attend the hearing. It
will be a special day."